Manchester Assize Courts Great Ducie Street Strangeways.

MANCHESTER ASSIZE COURTS – Builders desirous of tendering for the BRICKWORK and MASONRY required in the Foundations of the above Buildings may see the drawings and specifications and obtain bills of quantities by applying to my office. Alfred Waterhouse, Cross Street Chambers, Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 21 September 1859 Page 1]

MANCHESTER ASSIZE COURTS. — We are informed that the site selected for these courts has been cleared of the remains of its former buildings, and a contract entered into with Mr. Robert Neill, of Manchester, for the construction of the foundation walls of the new Assize Courts. The work has now been tor some time in progress. It has been found necessary to sink the walls to a considerable depth, in order to secure for them a perfectly firm. solid bed. The footings or the walls are all hard flag "landings," from six to eight inches in thickness, and both the footings and the brickwork above are set in mortar made from Ellis's "Barrow lime." Meanwhile, Mr Waterhouse, the architect of the works. is actively engaged in completing the details of his design, which are expected to be finished by the end of January next, when the Committee of Magistrates intend advertising for tenders for the main works above ground. which, it is understood. will be comprised in one contract. Yorkshire stone has been selected by the Committee as that best adapted on the whole for the exterior of the building. [Manchester Guardian 17 December 1859 page 4]

The Assize Courts Committee of the Salford Hundred Magistrates have now accepted contracts for the performance of nearly all the work necessary for the completion of the Assize Courts for the Hundred, which arc in the course of erection in Bury New‑road, Strangeways. The first contract, for the excavating, was that of Messrs Gilbert and Sharp, and the cost was about £1,200, unexpected difficulties and consequent delays and expenditure having been met with in getting to really solid ground. Then followed the contract for the brickwork and flag foundations, the stone footings etc., for which the tender of Mr Robert Neill, of Strangeways, was accepted; and the cost has been about £1,700. The work is now to the level of the ground‑floor, or a few feet above the ground; and Mr Neill's contract was completed a short time ago. The original estimate was that the builder's work proper should not exceed a cost of £70,000 ; but the Committee have since that time arranged with Mr Alfred Waterhouse, the architect, for somewhat extending the plans, so as to give rather more space for the court‑rooms and the surrounding corridors, and for the addition of a projecting entrance from South‑hall‑street. In addition to this, a rise has taken place in the value of building materials and of labour; so that in accepting the contract of Mr Samuel Bramall, of Bristol‑street, Hulme, the exact amount of which is understood to be ,69.907, we believe that it is felt that a gratifying close approach has been made, under all the circumstances, to the original estimate. The advertised conditions for tenders comprised all that is usual to include in such contracts; and Mr Bramall has undertaken to complete his work by the 1st May, 1863. Certain of the fittings and decorations will then have to be done; so that it must not be assumed that the building will be at all fit for use at the date named. Such may probably be the case about the end of 1863. The building is to be warmed and ventilated by water apparatus; for the supply of which the tender of Messrs Hayden, of Trowbridge, has been accepted. This firm is well known for the extensive works of the kind executed by them, and the amount of their tender in this case is £2,600. [Building News 22 June 1860 page 505]

This new and extensive Gothic edifice approaches completion externally. The cost will be about £100,000. The architect, as our readers know, is Mr Alfred Waterhouse, of Manchester. The courts extend 270 feet in length by 170 feet in depth. The principal facade is to the west in Great Ducie-street, and another is on the south, in Southall Street. The north end abuts upon the judges’ lodgings, a structure now nearly completed, and separated only from the main building by a court- yard. The general character of the building is of the period between the Early English and Decorated. The arrangement places the two courts and a hall, together with a tower, in the centre of a range of buildings three storeys in height. The principal façade of the courts comprises a central and projecting entrance, 46 feet in length and 14 feet deep, with flanks, each 75 feet long, and a pavilion at each end. The basement storey rises very considerably above the ground; succeeded by the principal storey on the level of which are the great hall and courts. The upper storey, in which are the chancery court and grand jury room, is succeeded by a high pitched roof; the grand entrance however being finished with a gable. The principal storey is reached through the chief entrance by twenty-eight steps in two flights, the visitor passing under a double recessed open portico, 36 feet in depth, formed by a double tier of three arches each, which are supported by shafts of Dalbeattie grey granite on massive bases. The central entrance is supported by this portico. The portico leads by three doorways, formed by the arches into the great hall, which is 100 feet long by 48 feet 6 inches wide, and is 75 feet high. It will be well-lighted by traceried windows, and the roof will be of open timber. From this hall admission to the courts can be gained by the direct entrance, or by the corridors which run around the building. The crown court is to the right, the civil court to the left. Each is in size 50 feet by 45 feet and lofty.  Between the two courts will be consultation rooms for the judges. The tower will rise 210 feet from the ground. It will consist of a plain panelled shaft, finished with gablets flanked by turrets, and a pyramidal roof. The judges’ lodgings are situate between the north end of the building and Cottam Street. The principal front is towards Great Ducie Street. The building covers an area of 92 feet by 98 feet and is composed of three storeys in the front and four in the back. The architecture is in keeping with the style of the courts. The building will be warmed and ventilated on the plan of Messrs Haden. [Builder 12 April 1862 Page 264]

MANCHESTER  - Mr Woolner has been commissioned to execute the statues which are to decorate the new Manchester Assize Courts, now in course of erection, from Mr Waterhouse's designs. They comprise, externally, over the central porch which is advanced from the front of the building, eight statues of the English Lawgivers, viz.:CAlfred the Great, Edward the First, Henry the Second, Ranulf de Glanville, Gascoigne, Sir Thomas More, Bacon, and Sir Matthew Hale, all of which are to be life‑size. Above the gable of this porch, which rises higher than the roof line of the building itself, is a statue of Moses giving the law, 10 feet high. Behind the figures of Edward the First and Alfred are to be oval sculptures representing some points in the history of these lawgivers. At one angle of the building a second block, containing a series of apartments for the use of the judges, etc, is being erected; these are separated from the main edifice by a court‑yard, the entrance to which is through a screen‑gateway; over this gateway is to be an alto-relief of the Judgment of Solomon, 5 feet in diameter.  At the angle of this detached block will be placed a statue of Mercy. On the return face of the building, where is a smaller advanced porch, will appear a statue of Justice, so that the whole structure is situated, so to say, between the representation of these attributes of its office. It appears that the interior decoration of this great edifice is to contain other works not yet determined on, but to comprise at least two other statues, besides large medallion portraits of Lords Brougham, Scarlett, and other worthies connected with the northern circuit. The carving outside the building is to be executed by the Messrs O'Shea. Foliage will supply the subjects for the decorative carvings. [Building News 19 December 1862 p479]

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 7 May 1859 Page 2 (Contracts) Committee request samples of good building stone be submitted for consideration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 April 1859 page 2
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 18 June 1859 Page 6 (Contracts) Tender for hoardings round the site and tender for excavations
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 September 1859 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 21 September 1859 Page 1
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 December 1859 page 4]
Reference    Manchester Guardian Wednesday 11 April 1860 Page 4 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 14 April 1860 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Tuesday 1 May 1860 Page 4 (Contracts) Notice states that the foundations were already excavated
Reference    Building News 22 June 1860 page 505
Reference    Builder 12 April 1862 Page 264
Reference    Builder 8 November 1862 Page 811. - report on progress
Reference    Builder 22 November page 837 - correction. Contractor Samuel Bramall
Reference    Building News 19 December 1862 page 479 - Woolner